Bicycle Friendly Communities
About the Program
The Bicycle Friendly Communities (BFC) Award Program helps communities evaluate how bicycle friendly their community is, celebrate progress, and work toward achieving higher-level awards over time. The BFC Program was launched by the Share the Road Cycling Coalition in Canada in August 2010 in partnership with the Washington-based League of American Bicyclists. Communities in Québec should apply through our program partner, Vélo Québec.
Case Statement
The Bicycle Friendly Communities program provides a roadmap to improve connections and recognizes municipalities who make cycling a real transportation and recreation option for people of all ages and abilities.
A Bicycle Friendly Community is more sustainable, connected, equitable, vibrant, and livable.
2024 BFC Application
We have made some major updates to the BFC Application to enhance the integrity of the program and make the application relevant for a wider range of communities. The application is available through the BFC web portal. Here is a summary of key changes:
- There is only one application round per year
- 2024 application deadline is 11:59pm on August 2, 2024
- We have replicated the program delivered by the League of American Bicyclists so that applicants will receive a Feedback Report with comparative data from the respective application round as well as U.S. cities at the same designation
- Share the Road has officially adopted a 5th E: Equity & Accessibility
We have updated the BFC application form and measures to align with best practices in bicycle data collection.
Communities complete a comprehensive online application and are judged in five categories, referred to as the five ‘Es’: Engineering, Education, Encouragement, Evaluation & Planning, and Equity & Accessibility.
A community must demonstrate achievements in each of the five categories in order to be considered for an award at the Bronze, Silver, Gold, Platinum or Diamond level. Applications are judged by a volunteer panel of expert judges.
BFC Inspiration
Our program partners have created and curated several transferable programs and projects.
Check out this video describing BFC resources available on Vélo Québec’s website, featuring Louis Lalonde, Chargé de projet, mouvement VÉLOSYMPATHIQUE.
Learn more about the BFC Ideabook created by the League of American Bicyclists through this video featuring Amelia Neptune, Director of Bicycle Friendly America.
Please contact [email protected] if you have any questions.
The 5 'Es'
Share the Road Cycling Coalition’s Bicycle Friendly Communities program is possible thanks to our program partners, The League of American Bicyclists, Vélo Québec, and our BFC sponsor, CAA South Central Ontario.
